HPTA Restart

IT'S ALL ABOUT RECOVERY

restart

It is commonly touted that once you start testosterone replacement (TRT) you are stuck with it for the rest of your life. This is simply not true for the majority of the cases. Many attempt recovery of their natural testosterone levels and fail because they have the wrong dosing structure, not one backed by hundreds of clients successfully restarting for 5+ years going strong. While on TRT therapy, you are shutting down your natural testosterone production. The result of taking testosterone from outside the body is the suppression of 3 primary hormones in the HPTA. In order for your body to produce testosterone naturally again these three signals need to be functioning properly.

GNRH (GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE)

This hormone is sent out by the hypothalamus and signals the pituitary to release LH and FSH.

LH (LUTEINIZING HORMONE)

This hormone gets sent from the pituitary to the Leydig cells inside the testicles, signaling them to make testosterone.

FSH (FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE)

Like LH this hormone is also sent out from the pituitary and signals the Sertoli cells inside the testicles to make sperm.

HYPOTHALAMUS -> PITUITARY -> TESTICLES -> TESTOSTERONE

These three components make up the HPTAxis. When attempting to restart the HPTA you need to take all 3 into account and make sure the conditions are right for the Axis to get rolling again. Testosterone from outside the body suppresses this signaling process and other hormones also contribute to shut down as well; such as prolactin and estrogen.

So how do we create the right conditions for the body to start producing its own testosterone?

First and foremost, since the testicles have been dormant or hopefully you have included some HCG during your TRT to maintain partial function we need to get the Leydig cells, which are in the testicles to get back into working condition.

PHASE 1:

HCG AND AI TREATMENT

After properly accounting for when the exogenous testosterone cypionate (if that is the ester you have been using) is leaving your system, we then start HCG treatment alongside an AI to keep estrogen down; remember estrogen is suppressive. HCG treatment should be used for a period dictated by labs; this is another fallacy of most programs. The “one size fits all theory” does not apply and you must get lab work to see whether your testicles are functioning to the degree in which they will be responsive to the LH/FSH that your pituitary will secrete to stimulate endogenous testosterone.
During this period it is important to make sure your body is filling up with essential “base” hormones such as DHEA and Pregnenolone as well. These hormones will ensure mental health and are required for steroidal hormones to be produced. DHEA and Pregnenolone are converted via enzymes to testosterone and estrogen, as well as host of other metabolites which are required for other hormones of the nuclear receptor family.

PHASE 2:

GETTING TESTOSTERONE PRODUCED!

After phase 1 of the protocol has been completed successfully as determined by labs; we can initiate phase 2. Most people dread and have experienced a very rough time when stopping exogenous testosterone treatment.

THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS

YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!

When starting phase two, you are going to want to supplement with base hormones, vitamins, optimize dhGH (raising IGF-1), and SERM treatment.

This program has been tried and tested hundreds of times. It works, and we have the lab work to back it up along with testimonials.

Vitamin B, D and E: Increases energy, B12 deficiency allows for a large list of psychological problems indicating its profound effects on mental health, allows for proper enzyme activity, strong anti-oxidative properties increase connective tissue growth (achy joints? Weak tendons?), as well as neurological functions, neuromuscular function, inflammation, nitric oxide synthase, immune system, DNA synthesis and regulation and the list goes on. Did you know Vitamin B12 is approved by the FDA to treat cyanide poisoning? These vitamins are extremely underestimated. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)

DHEA and Pregnenolone: Base hormones that will enable the production of all required hormones directly or indirectly including but not limited to pregnenolone sulfate, 17α-OH P, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA),androstenedione (OH), testosterone, BT, estradiol, progesterone, 17α-OH progesterone, aldosterone, 1,25(OH) vitamin D, 25(OH) vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, luteinizing hormone, GH, and IGF-1. Pregnenolone being a very important neurosteroid and supports healthy brain function, modulates NMDA receptors and has been proven to reduce negative effects induced by schizophrenia (this example to show how powerful it is, not that you have schizophrenia). Brain fog? Depressed? All these hormones have multiple functions which most don’t understand, leading to many negative side effects. (7)(8)

SERMs: These medications will attach to various estrogen receptors and interfere with the hypothalamus testosterone recognition leading to an increase LH/FSH. (9)

AI: Low dose aromatase inhibitor will keep estrogen low to make sure that it is not suppressing the HPTA and keep mood swings to a minimal. (10)

IMT’s GH Peptide combination: Increases natural GH subsequently increasing IGF-1. This hormone is an important contributor in the modulation of the somatotropic axis and can impair our testosterone production if not optimized alongside the other hormones. To still maintain healthy functioning and have high GH and IGF-1 levels supplementation of a GH releaser such as a peptide combination is most necessary.(11)(12)(13)

The phase two HCG restart hopes to bring back normal testosterone levels and sensitize the leydig cells. This phase should be continued until it is determined by labs that the leydig cells are responsive to the LH hormone. LH/FSH levels will have to rise as well as testosterone levels to a certain amount before you can discontinue. The long half-life of the SERMs allow for a nice transitioning. This is the proper protocol for a successful normalization, this is the program that allows for you to transpose from exogenous testosterone replacement therapy to be all natural WITHOUT testosterone deficiency and the living hell many endure without being able to restore your own levels. Each case needs to be reviewed individually and certain individuals may have less of a chance at recovering than others. This all depends on your initial diagnosis. IMT will help determine if this is a great cause for you. We have an EXTREMELY high success rate for the patients whom qualify and that is after labs have been drawn 1-2 years after the treatment was discontinued.

CONCLUSION

An HPTA restart will comprise of two phases, HCG and AI use to activate the testicles to be receptive to the LH/FSH pulse when the medications are discontinued. The second phase will comprise of medications to stimulate endogenous production of testosterone, both phases end when labs dictate they are done. There is no clear cut 4 weeks of this and 2 weeks of that, everything is individualized.

Contact IMT today and give your body the program it deserves and give you the best chance at recovering your natural testosterone levels

(1) Non-antioxidant activities of vitamin E.
(2) Molecular mechanism of α-tocopherol action
(3) Vitamin D increases expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in adrenal medullary cells
(4) Vitamin D and the anti-viral state
(5) Hydroxycobalamin/sodium thiosulfate as a cyanide antidote
(6) Neurological Manifestations Of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency
(7) Effect of DHEA on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men
(8) Proof-of-Concept Trial with the Neurosteroid Pregnenolone Targeting Cognitive and Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
(9) Site of Action of Clomiphene Citrate in Men: A Study of the Pituitary-Leydig Cell Axis1
(10) Effects of Aromatase Inhibition in Elderly Men with Low or Borderline-Low Serum Testosterone Levels
(11) Nocturnal ghrelin pulsatility and response to growth hormone secretagogues in healthy men
(12) PEGylation of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRF) analogues
(13) Activation of the somatotropic axis by testosterone in adult males: evidence for the role of aromatization.